Didn’t get a chance to post yesterday as we were traveling but what a finish!! Hincapie rode a perfect lead out and Cadel won the day. It made me especially happy that he beat out AC. I thought for a minute AC had gotten it but thank goodness for photo finishes b/c it was indisputable who won as seen from the camera.
I was used to do a lot of work on the road and if I didn't get spit out on a climb I would be given some time to suck wheels and rest a bit then use what I had left to set up our sprinter. When things worked right we would find our way to the front with (hopefully) four riders in good position at the kilo flag. I would be #2 in line and once our speed man took us up to a good head of steam he would roll off at about 850 meters and I would be expected to put the hammer down for 3 - 400 meters.
I was expected to know where our main challenge was coming from and protect the lane. On a good day I would be able to hold our speed and maybe even gain just a shade. By the time I was spent I would be looking for a safe line to hold and if my job was done good there would be an opening for our 3 man to start the jump and take our sprinter with him. Our preference was for me to find the windward side of the road and stay far enough in from the shoulder that anyone trying to surprise us would have to push wind to pass. If no one was there, that is the lane I would roll off in. Sometimes I would just think about spinning the smallest circles I could until I just had no more, then just hold my line, let them pick their route and watch the mayhem begin.
To see a pair of my mates blow by me accelerating like they had a nitro boost and spot my teammate's arms go up at the line was an unexplainable feeling of accomplishment. One sprinter I rode with for a couple of years was so fast, it was a delight to see him turn it on.
ANYWAY ... when I watch the kind of team work that is going on at the front it is the best part of the race to me. The aerial views of the run up to the line are spectacular. Seeing Thor working to lead out Tyler Farrar for an American win on the 4th of July was as good as it gets. I LOVE THIS SPORT!